Truck safe



July 17, 1956 A. DE ROSA, SR 2,754,777

TRUCK SAFE Filed Sept. 18, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet l l I INVENTOR AfiHoNYDEROSA SR.

XWW ATTORNEYS July 17, 1956 A. DE ROSA, SR

TRUCK SAFE Filed Sept. 18, 1953 F IG. 2. f

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .63? X z INVENTOR ANTHONY DE ROSA SR ASYW 7 5WATTORNEYS United States Patent TRUCK SAFE Anthony De Rosa, Sr.,Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to Herring-Hall-Marvin Safe Company, Hamilton,Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application September 18, 1953, Serial No.380,927

8 Claims. (Cl. 109-51) This invention relates to safes having multiplecontrolled locking systems wherein the simultaneous manipulation of atleast two independent keys or combination sets, is required, to open themain access door.

More particularly, the invention consists in new and useful improvementsin a truck or vehicle mounted safe having a money-receiving chamber,closed by a main access door which is provided with a single lockmechanism under the combined control of two independently operated keys,one of which is also adapted to independently control the opening of adeposit slot guard in the top of the chamber.

In the operation of many business enterprises, truck deliveries ofmerchandise is a generally accepted service, and frequently the truckdrivers are required to collect considerable sums of money in the courseof a days deliveries. The collection, transportation and finalaccounting for these funds has presented two major problems, namely, theprotection of the collected money from holdup and robbery during thedrivers run and secondly, the protection of the driver in theverification of his days collections when he delivers the money to hishome base of operation.

An object of the present invention is to provide a very simple, compactand inexpensive form of truck safe adapted to be rigidly mounted on thechassis of a conventional truck and of such construction and design thatthe desired strength is secured and its removal from the truck isimpossible without first opening the main access door.

Another object of the invention is to provide a truck safe wherein themain access door is provided with a single lock bolt mechanism havingtwo independently operating key noses, one under the control of thedrivers key and the other under the independent control of the manageror auditors key, the joint manipulation of both keys being required toopen the access door.

A further object of the invention is to provide a truck safe of thistype having a deposit slot guard which is under the single control ofthe drivers key, the main lock bolt being designed to coact with a slotguard lock so that the latter may be released by manipulation of thedrivers. key without affecting the locking relationship of themainlockbolt, with respect to the access door. Thus; while the depositslot guard is under the sole control of the drivers key, the unlockingofthe main access door cannot be accomplished without the manipulation ofboth' the drivers key and themanagers-key so that the driver must bepresent when his collections are turned over to the inthe: novel:features herein set forth, illustratedin the "ice accompanying drawingsand moreparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings in which numerals of like character designatesimilar parts throughout the several views:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view showing the locking mechanism and thehinged slot guard in dotted lines;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view through the safe body, showing thetruck mounting means and the dual control locking mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail showing the position of the main lockbolt after a quarter turn of the drivers key; to release the slot guard;

Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the relative positions of the two keysin the final unlocked condition;

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are diagrammatic illustrations of one form of dual keylock which may be employed in connection with the present invention.Fig. 5 shows the lock mechanism with the bolt in locked position and thetumbler removed. Fig. 6 shows the lock mechanism with the bolt partiallyretracted by the first key with the tumbler limiting further movementthereof, and Fig. 7 shows the positions of the parts when the bolt isfully retracted.

In the drawings, 5 generally represents the safe housing which ispreferably rectangular in shape and consists of top and bottom walls 6and 7 respectively, the side walls 8 and 9, and a rear wall 10-, allpreferably composed of relatively thick steel plate welded together toform a boxlike chamber 11. The front of the chamber 11 is closed by amain access door 12, formed of a solid steel plate of a thicknesscomparable to that of the chamber walls, and adapted when closed, to fitwithin the confines of the front edges of the top, bottom and side wallsas shown in Fig. 2.

The upper face of the bottom wall 7 is recessed adjacent its forwardedge, as at 13, to receive a downwardly projecting transverse flange 14formed on the lower edge of the door 12, the rear edge of said flangebeing rounded as at 15 to permit the door 12 to be swung outwardly atits upper end. The door is hingedly connected at its lower end by meansof a pair of gusset type hinges 16 which are welded to the inner face ofthe door at each of its side edges and project inwardly along the innerfaces of the side walls 8 and 9 Each of the hinges 16 is provided withan arcuate slot 17 adapted to engage a fixed pin or stud 18 whichprojects inwardly from the side walls 8 and 9, thus controlling theoutward swinging movement of the door 12.

The upper edge of the door 12 is provided with a slight inward bevel tofit within a complementary, inwardlyinclined recess 19 at the front edgeof the top wall 6, the

V inner edge 20 of the recess 19 serving as an abutment to limit theclosing movement of the door. To further define the inner limits of theclosing movement of the door and provide reinforcement therefore, eachof the side walls 8 and 9 is provided with a vertically extendingstriker 21 lying in the same vertical plane with the shoulder orabutment'Ztl at the upper end of the door. Thus, when the door is inclosed position, it is uniformly supported along its top, bottom andsides to prevent it from being forced inwardly and as its outer facelies flush with the corresponding edges of the top, bottom and sidewalls of the chamber 11, it cannot be pried outwardly.

A double nosed key lock unit 22 is held in place on the inner face ofthe door 12, adjacent its upper edge by means'of' screws 23 and isreinforced by a channel shaped lock strap 24 secured to the door byscrews 25. The specific construction of the lock per se, forms no partof the present. invention and therefore it is illustrated more or lessdiagrammatically. For purposes of understanding the invention; it issufiicient to state that the lock His-provided withaa verticallyslidablelock bolt 26, the

movement of which is controlled by two independent key actuatedmechanisms 27 and 28, the key noses of which are disposed in suitableopenings in the door 12 with their respective key slots presented at theouter face of the door.

As an example of one form of dual key lock mechanism, which maysatisfactorily be employed in connection with this invention, referenceis made to the patent to A. Kirks No. 329,456 issued November 3, 1885.For convenience, Figs. 5, 6 and 7 of the accompanying drawingsdiagrammatically illustrate a suitable adaptation of the Kirks lock tothe present invention, certain parts of the patented lock having beeneliminated as unnecessary to its use here.

The lock bolt 26 is provided with a longitudinal extension 57, slidablymounted in the casing of the unit 22, its longitudinal movement beinglimited by a slot 59, through which passes a bolt 60, fixed in the unit22. One longitudinal edge of the extension 57 is recessed as at 61 forengagement by a cam 61:! under the control of a key in mechanism 27. Asseen in Fig. 6, a tumbler 62 is pivotally mounted on bolt 60, along sideof extension 57, said tumbler being provided at one end with a slot 63adapted to be moved into and out of alignment with a rib 58 on the lockbolt 26. The shifting of the tumbler 62 is accomplished by the insertionof a second key 28a in mechanism 28, a toe 64 being provided on one edgeof the tumbler for engagement by the key 28a. A leaf spring 65, fastenedin the housing of the unit 22 by means of a mounting post 66, is securedat its opposite end to the tumbler 62 and normally tends to rock thetumbler in clockwise direction as seen in Fig. 6, upon withdrawal of thekey 28a.

It will thus be seen that by the insertion of the first key 27:: inmechanism 27, the cam 61a can initially retract the lock bolt 26 only tothe limited extent permitted by the rib 58, which abuts the end of thetumbler 62. However, upon the insertion of a key 28a in mechanism 28,the tumbler 62 is rotated on its bolt 60, through the medium of the toe64, to align the slot 63 with the rib 58. When in this aligned position,the continued manipulation of the first key 27a will completely retractthe lock bolt 26 as shown in Fig. 7. Thus, neither key alone, cancompletely retract the lock bolt 26.

The operation and dual control of the lock mechanism 22 will bedescribed later on after a more complete discussion of its relatedfeatures.

The top wall 6 is provided with a transverse deposit slot 29, adapted toreceive and be closed by a slot guard or closure 30, hinged at one endas at 31 (Fig. 1) so that when closed, it lies flush with the uppersurface of the top wall 6. The hinge structure 31 consists of twoopposed trunnions rotatably supported in complementary bearings in apair of spaced bosses 32 which are Welded to the upper face of the topwall 6 of the safe. A lift pin 33 is screwed into the upper face of theslot guard 30 to facilitate the opening of the guard.

On the underside of the slot guard 30 adjacent its hinged end, there iswelded a rearwardly projecting lug 34, the projecting portion of whichis adapted to engage and interlock with a recess 35 in the side wall 8of the chamber. Thus, when the slot guard 30 is in closed position itshinged end is reinforced by these interlocking elements. The forward endof the slot guard 39 is recessed at at 36, on its underside so as toregister with a complementary steplike recess at the corresponding endof the slot 29, limiting the inward movement of the slot guard 30.

The forward edge of the top wall 6 is drilled rearwardly to provide ahorizontal cylindrical plunger recess 37, adapted to slidably receive alocking plunger 38, the outer end 39 of which normally protrudes asufficient distance from the recess to provide a finger grip. A recess40 in the adjacent edge of the slot guard 30 is aligned with thecylindrical recess 37 and is adapted to receive the inner end of theplunger 38 when the latter is forced to its innermost position as shownin full lines in Fig. 2, thus locking the slot guard 30 in closedposition. Upon the outward movement of the plunger 38 to the positionshown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, its inner end is retracted from therecess 40 and the slot guard may be swung upwardly on its hinge to theposition shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. In this position, the depositslot 29 is open to receive bills or coins and in order to prevent thefishing out of money which has been deposited, the under side of the topwall 6 is preferably provided adjacent the slot 29, with a saw toothguard or bafile 41, secured in place by screws 42. As will be seen inFig. 2 this bafile 41 is directed forwardly at an angle and underliesthe slot 29, permitting the insertion of money through the slot butforming an obstacle to anyone undertaking to remove money through theslot.

The slot guard plunger 38 is under the sole control of the driver of thetruck and its locking and unlocking is co-related to the dual controllock unit 22 previously referred to. For this purpose the under side ofthe plunger 38 is provided intermediate its ends, with a transversekeeper recess or notch 43 adapted to receive the upper end of the lockbolt 26 when the latter is in its fully extended position as shown infull lines in Fig. 2. Here it will be seen that the upper end of thelock bar 26 is inclined so as not to interfere with the opening of thedoor 12 when it is swung outwardly on its hinges. However, when in fullyextended position, the inclined end of the lock bolt extendssufliciently into the plunger recess 43 to prevent more than a slightoutward movement of the plunger until the lock bolt is retracted. Asecond recess 44 in the top side of the plunger 38, coacts with a stoppin 45 to prevent complete withdrawal of the plunger from the recess 37.

One of the important features of the present invention lies in theadaptation of a dual control lock mechanism, whereby a common lock boltserves as the locking mechanism for the slot guard 30 under the solecontrol of one key operating a key nose in mechanism 27, but maintainsthe main access door 12 in completely locked condition until the lockbolt is retracted by the joint operation of independently operable keysin mechanisms 27 and 28. As will be seen from Fig. 2, when the lock bolt26 is fully extended it passes through a keeper slot 46 in top wall 6and projects into the recess 43 in plunger 38 and so long as it remainsin this position, retraction of the plunger 38 is prevented and the slotguard 30 remains locked. The design of the lock unit 22 is such that aquarter turn of the drivers key in mechanism 27, in counterclockwisedirection initially retracts the lock bolt 26 to the position shown inFig. 3 removing the end of the lock bolt from the plunger recess 43 tofree the plunger 38 so that it can be retracted from the recess 40 inthe slot guard 30. The position of the lock bolt 26 shown in Fig. 3 andin dotted line x in Fig. 2, represents the limit of downward movementwhich may be accomplished by the independent action of the drivers keyin mechanism 27 and in this position it will be seen that the forwardface of the projecting lock bolt 26 still lies in firm engagement withthe adjacent edge of the keeper recess 46 so that the access door 12remains in fully locked position.

The access door 12 cannot be opened until a second key is inserted inmechanism 28 and the latter turned a quarter turn in counterclockwisedirection. The design is such that upon turning a key in mechanism 28 aquarter turn, the lock bolt is released so that a further turn of thedrivers key in mechanism 27 completes the retraction of the lock bolt 26to the position shown in Fig. 4 and at y in dotted lines in Fig. 2. Inthis position it will be seen that the end of the lock bolt has clearedthe keeper slot 43 and the access door 12 may be swung outwardly on itshinges 16.

As an added precaution against the unauthorized opening of the door 12in the event lock mechanism is hammered out, so that the bolt 26 is noteifective, a re-locking mechanism is provided. This consists of avertical, cylindrical plunger 47 reciprocably mounted in a recess 48which is drilled vertically in. the top edge of the door 12. A notch 49is provided in the adjacent surface of the top wall 6 and aligned withthe recess 48 so that the plunger 47, under the influence of a coilspring 50 in the bottom of the recess 48, is normally urged upwardlyinto the notch 49. However, the engagement of the auxiliary plunger 47with the notch 49, is normally prevented by a projecting finger 51 fixedto the inner face of the lock housing 22 and. extending inwardly througha slot in the door 12 where it engages a peripheral notch in theauxiliary plunger 47.

Thus, in, the event the lock unit 22 is hammered out, the finger 51 isretracted from the notch in plunger 47 permitting the spring 50 to forcethe plunger upwardly into the notch 4-9 so that the door 12 isre-locked.

As before explained, the safe of the present invention is primarilydesigned. for use. in. trucks. and it may be mounted on the truck bodyor chassis in any suitable manner designed to prevent the removal of thesafe from the truck. One form of such mounting is illustrated in thedrawings where 52 represents a convenient portion of the truck chassisor body channel.

A plurality of heavy screws or bolts 53 extending through complementaryopenings in the bottom wall 7 of the safe are inserted from the interiorof chamber 11. The safe bottom rests upon a floor board 54 into whichthe screws 53 pass and register and the truck channel is provided withregistering openings 55 through which the screws pass for insertion in aclock plate 56 on the underside of the channel. It will be noted thatthe bottom of the safe lies flush with the upper surface of the floorboard and the screws 53 terminating within the block 56, cannot possiblybe reached without the safe door 12.

it will thus be seen that I have provided a rigid and etficient safestructure particularly adapted for use in connection with deliverytrucks or the like and one which provides a maximum of security fromholdups. Furthermore, my particular adaptation of a dual control lockmechanism afiords full protection to both the truck driver and the homeofiice in the vertification of collections.

From the foregoing it is believed that my invention may be readilyunderstood by those skilled in the art without further description, itbeing borne in mind that numerous changes may be made in the details ofconstruction without departing from the spirit of the invention as setforth in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A safe comprising a housing having top, bottom, side and rear wallsforming a deposit receiving chamber, a main access opening in the frontportion of said housing, a door for said opening, a deposit slot in thetop wall of said housing, communicating with said chamber, a closure forsaid slot, a retractable plunger engageable with said closure forlocking the latter in closed position, a keeper slot in said top walladjacent the inner face of said door, a registering keeper notch in saidplunger, a dual control lock unit on said door comprising a single lockbolt, simultaneously engageable with said keeper slot and keeper notch,a first key actuated mechanism, operable to initially retract said boltfrom said keeper notch to free said plunger, means limiting the initialretraction of said bolt, and a second independent key actuatedmechanism, operable to release said last-named means and permit completeretraction of said bolt, to disengage said keeper slot.

2. A safe comprising a housing having top, bottom, side and rear wallsforming a deposit receiving chamber, a main access opening in the frontportion of said housing, a door for said opening, a deposit slot in thetop wall of said housing communicating with said chamber, a closure forsaid slot, a horizontal cavity in said top wall, a locking recess insaid slot closure adapted to register with the inner end of said cavitywhen the closure is seated, a plunger slidable in said cavity andretractably engageable with said locking recess, a keeper slot in theunderside of said top wall, opening into said cavity intermediate itsends, a keeper notch in the underside of said plunger, normally inregister with said keeper slot, a dual control lock unit fixed to theinner face of said door adjacent its upper end, said unit comprising asingle lock bolt perpendicular to said plunger and vertically slidablebetween two extreme positions, said bolt, when fully extended, passingthrough said keeper slot with its end lying in said keeper notch, toconcurrently limit the retraction of said plunger and prevent theopening of said door, said unit including a first key actuated mechanismoperable to initially retract said bolt from said keeper notch, torelease the plunger from said slot closure, means limiting the initialretraction of said bolt, and a secondindependent key actuated mechanism,operable to release said lastnamed means, whereby said first keyactuated mechanism is permitted to complete the retractionof said boltto disengage said keeper slot.

3. A safe comprising a housing forming a deposit chamber, a main accessopening in the front of said housing, a door for said opening, a depositslot in the top of said housing, communicating with said chamber, aclosure for said slot, a manually actuated locking plunger slidablymounted in the top of said housing, retractably engageable With saidclosure, a lock unit fixed to the inner face of said door adjacent itsupper end and comprising a single lock bolt, perpendicular to saidlocking plunger, a keeper notch in said plunger, a keeper slot in thetop of said housing, said lock bolt being extendible through said slotinto said notch for concurrently locking said door and preventingretraction of said plunger, said lock unit including a first keyactuated mechanism operable to initially retract said bolt from saidkeeper notch, means limiting the initial retraction of said bolt, and asecond independent key actuated mechanism adapted to release said lastnamed means and permit complete retraction of said bolt to disengagesaid keeper slot.

4. A safe comprising a housing forming a deposit chamber, a main accessopening in the front of said housing, a door for said opening, a depositslot in the top of said housing, communicating with said chamber, aclosure for said slot, a manually actuated locking plunger slidablymounted in the top of said housing retractably engageable with saidclosure, a lock unit fixed to the inner face of said door adjacent itsupper end, comprising a single lock bolt perpendicular to said lockingplunger, a keeper notch in said plunger, a keeper slot in the top ofsaid housing, said lock bolt being extendible through said slot and intosaid notch for concurrently locking said door and preventing retractionof said plunger, a first key actuated mechanism operable to initiallyretract said bolt from said keeper notch, means limiting the initialretraction of said bolt, 21 second independent key actuated mechanismadapted to release said last-named means and to permit completeretraction of said bolt to disengage said keeper slot, a re-lockingplunger in said door slidably mounted for projection into acomplementary recess in said top, spring means normally urging saidrelocking plunger into engagement with said recess, means normallylocking said plunger in retracted position, said means being releasableupon the displacement of said main lock mechanism.

5. A safe as claimed in claim 4, including means accessible only fromthe interior of said chamber for securing the safe to a truck body.

6. A safe comprising a housing forming a deposit chamber, a main accessopening in the front of said housing, a door for said opening, hinged atits lower end and adapted to be received within the confines of saidopening, an elongated deposit slot in the top of said housingcommunicating with said chamber, a closure for said slot adapted to bereceived within the confines of said slot, and hingedly connected at oneend, a manually actuated locking plunger slidably mounted in the top ofsaid housing, retractably engageable with said closure, a lock unitcomprising a lock casing fixed to the inner face of said door adjacentits upper end and including a single lock bolt, perpendicular to saidlocking plunger, a keeper notch in said plunger, a keeper slot in thetop of said housing, said lock bolt being extendible through said slotand into said notch for concurrently locking said door and preventingretraction of said plunger, said lock unit having a first key actuatedmechanism operable to initially retract said bolt from said keepernotch, means limiting the initial retraction of said bolt, and a secondindependent key actuated mechanism adapted to release said last-namedmeans and permit complete retraction of said bolt to disengage saidkeeper slot.

7. A safe as claimed in claim 6, wherein said door is provided in itsupper edge with a vertically slidable relocking plunger aligned forengagement with a complementary recess in said top, spring meansnormally urging said re-locking plunger into engagement with saidrecess, a notch in the periphery of said re-locking plunger, and adetent slidably disposed in said door and normally maintained inengagement with said notch by abutment with said lock casing, saiddetent being releasable from said notch upon displacement of said casingto permit the References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATESPATENTS 901,778 Bucknam Oct. 20, 1908 928,483 Wakeman July 20, 19091,929,558 Miller Oct. 10, 1933

